How to use UEFI boot to install windows 7?

[CoBrA2168]

To install W7 on GPT (UEFI boot) you will need Secure boot disabled, CSM enabled and option ROMs set to legacy.

Enable UEFI booting or both legacy and UEFI and use the BBS BIOS Boot Selection using the correct function button before BIOS post, F9 for instance, and select UEFI:DVD... or whatever your DVDROM is called.

Once W7 is installed if you have a GOP compliant graphics card you can change to full UEFI (no CSM) by first making sure your graphics driver is updated and other drivers such as RAID. Note RST RAID drivers before v11.5 are unsuitable.

Use the W8 bootmgr on the system partition instead of the W7 bootmgr.

Add the BCD option novesa to on.

Restart to BIOS setup and set option ROMs to UEFI and CSM disabled.

Hey there,

I was wondering if you could describe more how to boot into Windows 7 x64 with CSM disabled. I am unable to do it, even though I've updated my graphics card (GTX 670) with a GOP firmware and the latest drivers. I also have the latest Intel drivers too.

I hang on the boot manager, saying that it cannot find the EFI boot file on the drive. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[gregrocker]

Are you trying to install Win7 to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums?

If so some BIOS' require CSM to install Win7 in UEFI, in addition to CSM always being needed if you want to Bypass UEFI to Install WIn7.

So confirm in BIOS setup that Secure Boot is Disabled, UEFI is enabled if there is a specfiic setting for that, CSM is enabled, UEFI is set to boot first if it offers that setting. These settings may be found on the Advanced, Boot and Security tabs. There may also be other settings so ask back if in doubt. Remember you can also highlight the settings to see an explanation of some in the hypertext to the right, and also observe what choices are available in the dropdown menu.

Also you'll need to set the UEFI DVD drive or UEFI Flash stick first to boot in BIOS Boot Priority menu on the Boot tab. Put the DVD or flash stick in the PC to do this. Another method is to set the Windows Boot Manager first to boot, then trigger the DVD or stick to boot using the one-time BIOS Boot menu key which most PC's have and may be given on the first screen. These must also be chosen as UEFI devices. If either doesn't show up as a UEFI device or show up at all then try burning a new DVD or writing the flash stick using Option One in UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows.

 

[CoBrA2168]

Hey,

Thanks for the quick reply. Actually I already have Windows 7 installed in UEFI mode (GPT) and I'm able to boot into the partition with CSM set to "always" in my BIOS. However, other Unix based installs do not play well with my system if CSM is set to Always. So my goal was to try to boot into Windows 7 with CSM set to "never."

The person above mentions that it's possible. He says something about modifying the boot manager to use Windows 8's. Not quite sure how to do that.

 

[gregrocker]

I'm assuming he means if you're Dual Booting with Windows 8 so it provides the System partition. I don't know how else Windows 8 Boot manager would be involved on a Windows 7 UEFI install. Perhaps he will reply so we can learn. If your Google Fu is strong you may be able to search this out if it's been achieved. I haven't heard of it.

Re-reading this thread its apparent that much more has been learned in the past year since this thread started. For example most UEFI firmware now requires some level of CSM to install Win7 so disabling it to force UEFI boot devices to appear is not something I would any longer recommend after dealing with hundreds more of these cases.

 

[CoBrA2168]

I'm assuming he means if you're Dual Booting with Windows 8 so it provides the System partition. I don't know how else Windows 8 Boot manager would be involved on a Windows 7 UEFI install. Perhaps he will reply so we can learn. If your Google Fu is strong you may be able to search this out if it's been achieved. I haven't heard of it.

Re-reading this thread its apparent that much more has been learned in the past year since this thread started. For example most UEFI firmware now requires some level of CSM to install Win7 so disabling it to force UEFI boot devices to appear is not something I would any longer recommend after dealing with hundreds more of these cases.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too.

I've tried multiple different BIOSes and BIOS settings to try to get everything to work. But for my Unix powered OS, I need CSM set to "Never."

For reference, I have a Z77X-UD5H motherboard.